332 SEASONS FOR WEIGHING HIVES. 



preserved by generous feeding, one of from fifteen to twenty 

 pounds stands in need of very little feeding, and one of 

 twenty pounds and above may be considered as safe from 

 famine. In regard to the weight of hives, we always weigh 

 the hive previously to putting a swarm into it ; on weighing 

 it therefore in the winter, we obtain the exact weight of the 

 contents of it, and this is a plan, which we strongly recom- 

 mend to every keeper of bees, and especially to those, who 

 are apt to apply a thick plaster of clay or mortar at the top 

 of their hives, and then include the weight of it in the general 

 weight of the hive. There is one circumstance connected 

 with the consumption of food, which deserves particular 

 mention; namely, that fewer hives die of famine in the 

 northern countries than in the more southern ones; and 

 this arises from the torpidity in which the bees of the 

 northern climates remain during the winter, which acts as 

 a check to the consumption of food ; whereas in the 

 southern climates, where the winters are mild, the bees are 

 comparatively in a state of animation, and consume their 

 provisions most greedily; the consequence of which is that 

 if the hive be not well stored, the bees die of famine before 

 the return of the spring. 



There are two seasons for the weighing of hives, the 

 month of October, and about the middle of January. By 

 comparing the weight of the hive in the latter month with 

 that which it exhibited in October, the quantity of food 

 consumed will be easily ascertained, and the necessity of 

 feeding accurately determined. The operation of weighing 

 the hives should be performed on a clear day of sunshine ; 

 due caution being taken that there is not any snow on the 

 ground, nor the outward atmosphere extremely cold, for the 

 bees may perhaps, to a certain degree, be disunited in 

 the operation, and become so benumbed by the cold as 

 to be unable to regain their position in the hive. 



